Procedure and device for the application of a label to an article

Abstract

Procedure and device for application of a label to an article by means of an elastic fastening element. A label is separated from a magazine and conveyed via a guide towards a tube-shaped slit needle. The label is passed along the tip of the needle until the latter penetrates a pre-punched hole in the label. Thereafter, the label is withdrawn, threaded on the needle, and partly back into the magazine where it is retained. The tip of the needle is pressed through an article whereupon a retaining element is separated from a stem and its head is passed through the needle and thus also through the label and the article. When the needle is removed from the article the label remains hanging, anchored in the retaining element.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for the application of a label having a first and a second pre-punched hole therein, to an article by means of an elastic fastening element fitted with a head comprising the steps of: inserting a tube-shaped, longitudinally slit needle through said first pre-punched hole of said label;   pressing said needle through the article so that the tip of the needle penetrates through the opposite side of the article;   inserting said fastening element into said tube shaped, longitudinally slit needle such that said fastening element passes through said label and the article and such that said fastening element head is oriented at the tip of said needle;   withdrawing said needle from the article whereby the head of said fastening element is retained on the opposite side of the article and whereby said fastening element and said label are retained in the article; said step of inserting said needle through said first hole of said label including;   providing a magazine for holding a plurality of the labels therein;   feeding at least one of the labels from said magazine towards the needle wherein at least one of the labels from the magazine is effected by means of a lug protruding into the magazine, which lug presses the label in its longitudinal direction towards a guide means which deflects the label towards the needle until the needle is in contact with the first pre-punched hole in the label; and   feeding the label away from the needle by engaging said second hole with a hook means which partially draws the label back into the magazine whereinafter said hook means is disengaged from said second hole.   
     
     
       2. A fastener applying tool for the application of a label, having a first and a second pre-punched hole therein, by means of an elastic fastening element, said tool comprising: a frame having a nose section at one end thereof;   a tube-shaped, longitudinally slit needle protruding from said nose section, storage means operably associated with said needle to store said fastening elements;   ejector means operably associated with said storage means to pass said fastening elements, one by one, through said needle;   a magazine attached to said frame for holding a plurality of said labels therein; label feeding means comprising:   guide means in said frame;   a lug protruding into said magazine arranged to separate and feed at least one said label from said magazine along said guide means towards said needle, a groove in the frame member, and a pivotable return hook movable along said groove in the frame such that said return hook engages said second pre-punched hole in the label.   
     
     
       3. The tool according to claim 2 wherein the feeding means includes a slide having a protruding pin which is slidable along a first groove defined in part by the frame and in part by the ejector unit; said ejector unit having a lug and wherein the lug of the ejector unit is secured to said slide and is movable in a second groove in the frame and wherein the return hook is carried in the pin and guided by a pair of coinciding grooves in said ejector unit and said frame. 
     
     
       4. The device according to claim 3 wherein the feeding means further includes a drive source with a longitudinally disposed reciprocating disposed rod to one end of which a feed head is attached, and wherein the slide is movably mounted on the rod and is pressed towards the feed head by a compression spring attached to the rod, and wherein a rotatably mounted retaining hook in the slide is arranged to be insertable into a core-out section in said feed head, said slide being detachably mounted to said feed head with a lug by means of a draw spring attached to the retaining hook; and wherein a pin mounted in a recess in the frame nose section is arranged to cause at the end of the forward movement of the feed head, the retaining hook to be disengaged from the feed head whereupon the slide is removable from the feed head. 
     
     
       5. The tool according to claim 4 wherein a feed hook is rotatably mounted in the feed head, which feed head is pressed by means of a spring against the upper side of the ejector unit and is so disposed that upon completion of the forward movement of the feed head, it is in engagement with a gearwheel having at least one tooth mounted in the frame nose section and rotates the at least one tooth towards locking influence by a spring-loaded ball in engagement with the gearwheel so that one of said fastening elements is fed forward to the needle. 
     
     
       6. The tool according to claim 2 wherein the label magazine includes a bottom bracket attached perpendicularly to the frame, a first end plate oriented at a drive source of the feeding means, a second end plate applied to the nose section and a third plate disposed for movement towards and away from the frame, and in that a spring-loaded lever protruding through a hole in the frame is mounted in the first end plate and is rotatably secured through the plate, and wherein a slot of the thickness of one label is provided between the frame and the second end plate which supports a guide profile which is oriented over a lug in the nose section for steering of one of said labels to be discharged from the magazine towards the needle. 
     
     
       7. The tool according to claim 2 wherein the feeding means and a drive source incorporated in the ejector means comprise two pneumatic piston cylinders with return springs; and wherein attached to the frame is a bracket which carries two operating valves, one for each piston cylinder; and wherein a pawl is pivotably suspended in association with the bracket and so disposed that when the pawl is pressed in towards the bracket one operating valve is actuated first and then the other operating valve is actuated. 
     
     
       8. A tool for the application of a label having a first and a second pre-punched hole therein to an article with a fastening element having a flexible head thereon to an article, said apparatus comprising: a frame member with a nose section;   a tube-shaped, longitudinally slit needle removably mounted in and projecting from said nose section;   storage means integral with said frame member for removably retaining therein a plurality of said fastening elements;   feeder means operably associated with said storage means for passing the head of the fastening element through the needle;   a magazine attached to said frame for retaining therein a plurality of said labels;   a reciprocating label feed mechanism operably associated with said magazine for feeding at least one said label from said magazine towards said needle, said label feed mechanism also being operably associated with said fastening element feeder means whereby said label is positioned so that the first pre-punched hole therein is seated over said needle which then penetrates through the article to the opposite side thereof, and whereby said fastening element is inserted through said needle such that the head thereof extends from the tip of said needle, and wherein the flexible head of said fastening element retains said element in the article and fastens said label to the article;   said feeder means including a groove in the frame member; and   a return hook pivotably associated with said feed mechanism and movable along said groove in the frame such that said return hook engages said second pre-punched hole in the label.